MOHAVE COUNTY – Two Mohave County divisions that were merged years ago are being separated in a government reorganization orchestrated by county manager Sam Elters. He has informed the Board of Supervisors (BOS) he wants to separate the Risk and Emergency Management Divisions, as the man who oversaw them, Joe Dorner, exits county employment for a mentoring position in the Kingman education community.
“The Risk Division manager and staff will become a part of the HR Department and under the HR Director oversight,” Elters explained during the June 16 BOS meeting. “They will be moved and housed with HR for efficiency and teamwork.”
Elters said he is repositioning Emergency Management within the Public Works Department.
“This strategic realignment will better align these two divisions within these departments, produce good synergy and, at the same time, generate savings to the county general fund.”
The savings are associated with the elimination of Dorner’s Director position. Elters said Public Works Director Steve Latoski and Human Resources Director Julianna Demmers will receive salary increases commensurate with new responsibilities.
Elters said the reorganization will be implemented on Monday, July 7.
The space occupied by Risk and Emergency Management personnel on the third floor of the county administration facility will be vacated through the realignment. Elters said he’ll later determine best use of the space going forward after consulting with the facilities division.
